How to access to Kusatsu Onsen. Japan Rail Pass covers all part of trip to Kusatsu

There are so many hot springs in Japan. Kusatsu Onsen is located in northern part of Gunma. It is well known as one of the most three famous hot springs in Japan. Other two are Arima Hot Springs in Hyogo and Gero Hot Springs in Gifu.

In this post, I would like to share the information about access to Kusatsu Onsen with you.

Actually any train cannot take you to Kusatu Onsen directly. You can access to the nearest station, Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi. And then you need to get on a bus to Kusatsu Onsen. But this bus service is operated by one of JR Group, JR Bus Kanto. This bus is covered by Japan Rail Pass too.

Limited Express Kusatsu connects Ueno station in Tokyo and Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station directly. This is only train to get Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi directly from Tokyo area. It is obviously the easiest way to get there. There are two round trips in weekdays and one more round trip on weekend. Please see the post, Limited Express Kusatsu, most convenient access to Kusatsu-Onsen from Ueno, Tokyo to get the details about this train.

Typical highway motorcoach has been used for bus service to Kusatsu.

After you get off this express train at Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station, get on the bus to Kusatsu-Onsen. The bus stops is only 15m away from the station. And Naganohara-kusatsuguchi station has only one platform and two tracks. You cannot miss it.

If you take Limited Express Kusatsu, express bus wait for the passengers from the train. In case that bus is full, next bus comes right away. It takes 22 minutes to get Kusatsu Onsen from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station. Japan Rail Pass cover this bus service completely. All you have to do is just show your pass to the driver.

Many Joetsu Shinkansen trains are operated by Max double decker E4 series. It is much more frequent than limited express Kusatsu.

Limited Express Kusatsu is operated only twice a day on weekdays. You may not be able to catch it. If you cannot catch this express train, you can use Joetsu Shikansen to Takasaki and transfer to local train on Agatsuma line. But don’t forget that Shinkansen train is faster than limited express Kusatsu. You may be able to catch up with it if you cannot be in time at Ueno station.

If you still cannot catch up with it, you have to take a local train from Takasaki. Naganohara-kusatsuguchi station is on Agatsuma line. This is a branch line and trains are not operated very frequently. There are about 15 round trips a day and is operated once an hour. It takes about 1.5 hrs from Takasaki to Naganohara-kusatsuguchi station. But limited express Kusatsu is not much faster than local train. It takes about 1 hour 10 minutes for same section.

Even if you arrive at Naganohara-kusatsuguchi by local train, the bus to Kusatsu Onsen wait for the passengers. This connected bus service is not an express bus service. But travel time is not much different from express bus service. It takes 28 minutes to get Kusatsu Onsen from Naganohara-kusatsuguchi station.

Of course these trains and bus service are completely covered by Japan Rail Pass as well.

Bus from Karuizawa

This bus service is not covered by Japan Rail Pass. But Karuizawa is popular destination and some of you want to access from Karuizawa to Kusatsu Onsen directly. Because if you use trains, it is a big detour. You have to go back to Takasaki by Nagano Shinkansen and transfer to Limited Express Kusatsu or local train to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi.

If you use a bus service, it takes 1 hour 15 minutes by express bus. As I mentioned above, it takes 1 hour 10 minutes from Takasaki to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi by even limited express Kusatsu. Direct bus service is much faster than train service. The bus is operated by Kusakaru Kotsu. They don’t have English website. But I put the link to this company website. They operate 5 round trips of express bus between Karuizawa and Kusatu Onsen. The bus fare is 2200 yen.

There is one more bus company, Seibu Kogen Bus company that operates the bus service from Karuizawa to Kusatsu Onsen. But this bus service connects Karuizawa with Shirane mountain and Kusatsu Onsen. It takes about 3 hours and the fare is 3770 yen. And this bus service is usually not available during winter season due to heavy snow.

Kusatsu Bus Terminal

Kusatsu Bus Terminal is sometimes called Kusatsu Eki (=station). It is located in the heart of Kusatsu Onsen.JR bus and train ticket window in the bus terminal.

All buses arrive at Kusatsu Bus terminal. There are souvenir shop, restaurant and small hot springs museum. And also if you don’t use Japan Rail Pass, you can purchase train ticket. Many hotels can be accessed on foot. But please contact to your hotel to make sure location.

Yubatake that is most popular spot in Kusatsu can be accessed by walk from the bus terminal. It is about 300m away. The following 9 minutes movie shows you to get Yubatake from the bus terminal.

Hi, i will be staying at KUSATSU NOW HOTEL, but i dont know how to get there. i know that i have catch a bus shuttle at Shinjuku Station to Kusatsu Hot Springs Bus Terminal. but how to get the Kusatsu now hotel from there ? any help would be great, many thanks!

One more question.. Should I buy the Kanto Area Pass… Is the Shinkansen covered in the pass or just good for Limited Express train?! Should I miss the direct express train and have to transfer Shinkansen to Takasaki.. Can I use the Kanto Area Pass for any of the Shinkansen ?!

I will be in Tokyo and staying total of 6 nights. Staying in Ginza area.

You mentioned that I should get the Kanto Area Pass.. Will this pass cover all the train trips within Tokyo ( shinjuku, shibuya, etc plus the Kusatsu trip ( train plus bus)?!

I was looking at the time table for express train from Ueno and its the morning going there which is good but coming back , there’s only afternoon train. Should we choose to return in the evening, is there any way to travel back to Ueno or Tokyo ?!

If you can’t take direct train from Kusatsu to Tokyo, simply take local train to Takasaki station from Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi station. Once you get Takasaki, you can take Shinkansen. You can take either direct express Kusatsu or local+Shinkansen. It depends on your itinerary.

I will be visiting Kusatsu from Tokyo and staying in Ginza area. Which is the best way to get to Kusatsu ? Which JR pass would you suggest I buy ?A JR Pass where I can use taking trains from Ginza to Shinjuku, Ueno, Roppongi etc.. basically traveling in Tokyo plus the trip to Kusatsu ?

Thank you for the useful information. I would like to try Resort Yamadori to go there someday. The problem is Resort Yamadori only runs sometimes. I think that train is ideal for using Seishun 18 kippu or 3 day unlimited pass in October.

When I wrote this post, I noticed Resort Yamadori is sometimes operated on Agatsuma line. But it is different train. So when I have a time to write about Resort Yamadori, I add some info about Resort Yamadori on this post. I’m afraid I make reader be confused.

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About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.

About JP Rail.com

This website is unofficial website about Japan Rail Pass, other rail passes and rail travel in Japan. It explains you how to use Japan Rail Pass and assists you to use Japan Rail Pass to its maximum! And also this site explain about many more rail passes, gives you tips and supports you to enjoy rail trip in Japan.